State of Origin is a 3 game Rugby League tournament played annually between Queensland and New South Wales, the two main League playing states in Aus. Back in the day the cashed up NSW clubs (pokies were illegal in QLD) would buy our best players and they would play for NSW in interstate clashes. Sick and tired of being beaten by our own, the QRL invented the concept of Origin, whereby you would play for the state of your birth, not where you lived and played. In the first game in 1980 Arthur Beetson, who had previously played for NSW, captained QLD and belted firetruck through his clubmate Mick Cronin. Qld won the game and a legend was born. It is now the highest level of Rugby League played in the world. Every kid who grows up in QLD or NSW dreams of playing Origin. Historically it has been fairly evenly matched until the last eight years where we have belted those roosterroach bastards eight years in a row. Mate against Mate. State against State. QUEENSLANDER! Hope that helps.